On Super Bowl weekend, we ask the problem-solver about his 'rules' for success.

Jan. 31, 2013
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“Your time is now.” / Robert Sebree / USA WEEKEND

Your new book is Life Code: New Rules for Winning in the Real World. What is winning? Winning at life is the opposite of ‘going through the motions.’ It is creating rich experiences that matter to you and those you love and minimizing people and experiences that suck you dry.

You created 16 new rules. Which one is hardest to do? No. 13: ‘Create a passionate nucleus of supporters.’ It takes time to find and bond with this critical core group of lifelong friends and supporters. We all need people we can trust and rely on, who cheer us on and truly want us to succeed. If you want a good friend, be a good friend.

Talk about defeating “bad guys.” They can be sneaky about taking what belongs to you, whether it be your mate or your money. I call them BAITERs (Backstabbers, Abusers, Imposters, Takers, Exploiters, Reckless). The key is that once you start to pay attention instead of naively trusting, they are pretty easy to spot. Once a BAITER knows you are on to them, they will quickly move on.

It’s Super Bowl time. Will you give us a 30-second pep talk? Here is something I would tell USA WEEKEND readers not just today, but every day of the year. As you go out the door today, I want you to think about one thing: In the entire history of mankind, there has never before been, nor will there ever again be, another YOU. You are it. You are the only one there will ever be. The question is, what are you going to do with this opportunity? This is your life, so don’t you dare waste one day of it. Do not let days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, months turn into years and look back and say: ‘I blew it. I let it slip away.’ Live, love and be happy. Your time is now.

Dr. Phil McGraw’s latest book, Life Code, is in stores this month. Dr. Phil McGraw’s latest book, Life Code, is in stores this month.